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Wednesday, October 15, 2014

YONKERS RACEWAY HONORS THE CATMAN SATURDAY NIGHT

 BY FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway

YONKERS, NY, Wednesday, October 15, 2014—To successfully salute Catello Manzi’s career, one would need a vast vocabulary as well as a gaggle of gold stars.               

Manzi and his harness racing achievements shall be recognized by Yonkers Raceway Saturday night (Oct. 18), appreciated by friends, fans and competitors.

Take in the Catman’s career numbers for a second…more than 91,000 drives, a figure unmatched by any jockey or driver. Then, there are the 14,800 wins and $158 million in purses.  Let those figures sink in.

For four decades, he was among the elite drivers everywhere he hung his hat, from Monticello to Liberty Bell to Freehold to Garden State Park to the Meadowlands and Yonkers Raceway.

Of course, there are the highlights from a Hall of Fame career…as in a trio of Yonkers Trots, a North America Cup, a Meadowlands Pace, a William Haughton Memorial, three Hudson Filly Trots, a division of the Lady Maud and the richest Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace ever.

Throw a Driver of the Year award into the mix and you see why the affable Catman found himself in some rare air. It’s fair to say his harness racing resume shall never be duplicated.

Manzi retired earlier this season and Saturday night, the Raceway pays tribute to an unmatched career and the gentleman behind it.

Congratulations, Cat.  

(Note…Yonkers is ‘forcing’ Manzi to sing for his supper, as Cat makes the presentation for Saturday night’s sixth race Open Handicap Pace, then signs autographed photos directly outside the winner’s circle).

The Raceway's five-night-per-week live schedule continues, with first post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (trio of stakes eliminations) at 7:10 PM. Evening simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting available daily.